110 POISONOUS SNAKES AND SNAKE POISONS. 



and by occurs here and there throughout any or every 

 organ of the body, so that at last the blood becomes 

 what physicians call " diffluent," and may remain until 

 it decays, free from the clots usually seen in the healthy 

 fluids when drawn and allowed to stand. In other 

 words, the brain, the spinal column, the lungs, the in- 

 testines, all are filled with blood ; with blood, however, 

 whose coagulability is destroyed. What fatal influence 

 that has on any living organism can readily be seen. 

 There is really no other poison known except snake 

 poison, which has the ability to ruin in a few minutes 

 the capacity of the lesser blood vessels to keep the 

 moving blood within their guarding walls. Our every 

 function — nay, life itself — depends on the blood being 

 so restrained. If by accident a drop or two of normal 

 blood escapes from a small vessel, instantly the blood 

 clots and tends to cork up the tiny hole through which 

 it came. Venom not only seems to rot the vessels, but 

 it also makes the blood fluid and so facilitates the 

 hemorrhages, of which it is the primary cause. Such 

 hemorrhages can even be followed under the microscope. 

 The peritoneum of a rabbit is laid open and examined 

 under the magnifying glass. The spectacle of the blood 

 globules driven swiftly through transparent capillaries, 

 the smallest of vessels, is a constant source of delight 

 for every one who sees it. Venom peptone scarcely dis- 

 turbs this local stream ; if, however, we touch the thin 

 membrane with fresh rattlesnake poison, which has a 

 great per centage of venom globulin, in a few minutes 

 the delicate little cells, which are like a thatch on the 

 inside of the capillary vessels, seem to be roughened and 

 become less transparent. Then, abruptly, here and there 

 a drop of blood oozes out ; these tiny blood points in- 

 crease in size and number, until at last the whole field of 

 view is covered with escaped blood. 



It is then only a question of time, as to how long it 



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